Net loss

Dr Sandip Jain

Internet addiction in teenagers is fast becoming a cause of major concern because it affects their mental and physical growth. Teenagers who have trouble connecting with people might depend on the Internet as a place to understand by their peers. Thus it is turning into a replacement for social interaction. That is how they start living in virtual reality and later have trouble dealing with real life relationships. Internet addiction can also be a symptom of an underlying problem like depression.

Sure signs

• Diminished interest in activities you once enjoyed.
• Feelings of distress or anxiousness when you can’t use Internet.
• Secretive Internet usage.
• Withdrawal from activities with family and friends.

How to manage?

• Ask yourself, “What am I missing out when I spend so much time on the Internet?” Write down these activities and decrease your Internet time to pursue some of them.
• Set reasonable Internet usage goals and stick to them. Take frequent breaks, at least five minutes each hour and pursue some other activity.
• Alter your routine to break your usage patterns. If you spend evenings on the Internet, start limiting your use to mornings.
• Seek out friends and acquaintances who “couldn’t care less” about the Internet. Take time to appreciate the fact that all life is not yet online.
• Stay connected to the offline world. Visit news-stands, book and music stores. Participate in activities such as music and live theatre; visit museums. Novels and poetry readings are hard to experience online.
• Treat the Internet as a tool. Stay focused on the fact that the Internet is a means to an end. Plan your strategy—whether you’re looking for information or entertainment—with the end in mind and you’ll save valuable time.

(Dr Jain is a Chandigarh-based consultant paediatrician)